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Arteta Urges Arsenal to Pile Pressure on Man City in Title Race

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta gives thumbs up during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg soccer match between Sporting CP and Arsenal FC at Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 07 April 2026. (EPA)
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta gives thumbs up during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg soccer match between Sporting CP and Arsenal FC at Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 07 April 2026. (EPA)
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Arteta Urges Arsenal to Pile Pressure on Man City in Title Race

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta gives thumbs up during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg soccer match between Sporting CP and Arsenal FC at Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 07 April 2026. (EPA)
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta gives thumbs up during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg soccer match between Sporting CP and Arsenal FC at Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 07 April 2026. (EPA)

Mikel Arteta challenged Arsenal to pile pressure on Manchester City by extending their lead at the top of the Premier League before their title rivals play 24 hours later.

Arteta's side host Bournemouth on Saturday and second-placed City travel to Chelsea on Sunday as the title race approaches a pivotal moment.

The Gunners are nine points ahead of City, having played a game more than Pep Guardiola's team.

That lead would increase to 12 points if Arsenal defeat Bournemouth, putting City under intense pressure to take maximum points from their tricky trip to Stamford Bridge.

Asked how important it would be to move further ahead of City, Arteta told reporters on Friday: "The closer we get, the relevance and importance of the match increases, obviously, and tomorrow is a big day for us.

"The players know it, our supporters know it, it's early kick-off, so get up early, have an early breakfast, bring your lunch, bring your dinner, as you say in England, and let's go all together for it because it has to be a big day."

After losing to City in the League Cup final and to second tier Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals, Arsenal bounced back with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League quarter-final first-leg on Tuesday.

The Gunners are chasing a first English title in 22 years, as well as their maiden Champions League crown.

And Arteta is convinced that they can finish the season with both trophies, which would finally end their six-year silverware drought since lifting the FA Cup.

"First of all, the capacity we have as a club and as a team, the will to win," Arteta said to explain his belief.

"We recognize the opportunity ahead and we are going to do our best to achieve it."

Arteta's Arsenal contract expires in 2027 and the Spaniard remains fully committed to the club after reports of talks over a new deal.

"There's no news on that. We have no time to discuss that now. The full focus is on what we have to do from here until the end of the season," he said.

"I am fully committed and really happy and I feel good. My family is good and I still have so much ambition to do with this football club, and for now we are in a good place.

"This job is about the present and what you do on the day. Give your very best and feel that you are the person that can lead and inspire the group to achieve great things for the club."

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Sports

Infantino: World Cup Hydration Breaks Purely Sporting, Not Commercial

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group K - Colombia v DR Congo - Estadio Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico - June 23, 2026 Colombia coach Nestor Lorenzo gives instructions to his players during a hydration break REUTERS/Raquel Cunha
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group K - Colombia v DR Congo - Estadio Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico - June 23, 2026 Colombia coach Nestor Lorenzo gives instructions to his players during a hydration break REUTERS/Raquel Cunha
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Infantino: World Cup Hydration Breaks Purely Sporting, Not Commercial

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group K - Colombia v DR Congo - Estadio Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico - June 23, 2026 Colombia coach Nestor Lorenzo gives instructions to his players during a hydration break REUTERS/Raquel Cunha
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group K - Colombia v DR Congo - Estadio Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico - June 23, 2026 Colombia coach Nestor Lorenzo gives instructions to his players during a hydration break REUTERS/Raquel Cunha

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended the introduction of hydration breaks at the World Cup, insisting that for football's governing body they are driven purely by sporting considerations and not commercial interests.

Mandatory three-minute breaks, introduced in the 22nd and 67th minutes of every match at the tournament, have drawn criticism from players, coaches and fans since the opening round of fixtures.

The breaks, introduced to help players cope with high temperatures across North America, have opened up additional advertising windows for broadcasters, Reuters reported.

This has fueled debate over their impact on the game, with some viewers complaining about being exposed to commercials during the three-minute stoppages.

"There is no ⁠additional revenue for ⁠FIFA, as all commercial agreements were signed well in advance. So, this is not a financial issue for us. For us, it is purely a sporting matter," Infantino said in a statement on Wednesday.

The breaks allow coaching staff to give in-game tactical instructions, a shift critics say disrupts match momentum and fundamentally alters the nature ⁠of the game.

England manager Thomas Tuchel said the additional break "interrupts and changes the identity of the football match,” while Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa said dividing matches into shorter segments takes away the fundamental characteristic of the game.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente and Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk have supported the intent behind the rule in extreme heat, but questioned the need for it in cooler conditions and at covered venues.

"The main reason is the heat, but we also have to understand that in a competition like the (FIFA) ⁠World Cup, played ⁠over 39 days, with teams potentially playing eight matches in those 39 days, having a moment to rest is extremely important,” Infantino said.

"What matters even more to us is ensuring that all teams, in every match, are playing under the same conditions.

"It's very difficult to accept that a coach might have the opportunity to influence a match by making adjustments simply because it's hotter, while in another match, where the temperature is slightly lower, the same coach doesn’t have the same opportunity."

Infantino added that the breaks had not reduced the intensity of matches, suggesting players were able to maintain a high level of performance throughout games.

Sports

Neymar Available for Scotland Clash but Not Certain to Play, Brazil Coach Says

Brazil's forward #10 Neymar takes part in a training session at the Columbia Park Training Facility in Morristown, New Jersey on June 22, 2026, during the 2026 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)
Brazil's forward #10 Neymar takes part in a training session at the Columbia Park Training Facility in Morristown, New Jersey on June 22, 2026, during the 2026 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)
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Neymar Available for Scotland Clash but Not Certain to Play, Brazil Coach Says

Brazil's forward #10 Neymar takes part in a training session at the Columbia Park Training Facility in Morristown, New Jersey on June 22, 2026, during the 2026 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)
Brazil's forward #10 Neymar takes part in a training session at the Columbia Park Training Facility in Morristown, New Jersey on June 22, 2026, during the 2026 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)

Neymar is available for Brazil's third World Cup group match against Scotland but coach Carlo Ancelotti declined to say if he would play a role in the Miami Stadium clash.

The 34-year-old forward was recalled by the Italian for the World Cup after almost three years away from the national team but has yet to play at the tournament because of a calf injury.

"Neymar is available," Ancelotti told reporters on Tuesday. "He worked this week and can be available for the match. We are very happy that he is back because, obviously, with his quality, he can help the team.

"I've really got to know him well. He ‌has worked very ‌seriously, trying to recover as quickly as possible.

"I'm very happy ‌with ⁠him. Even if ⁠he doesn't play, he brings experience, he brings knowledge of the game, he helps the younger players. He is doing very well."

Asked how much of the match Neymar could play, Ancelotti joked: "He can play 90 minutes -- walking. No, he's fine, he worked very well, he trained very well."

Brazil, who drew 1-1 with Morocco and beat Haiti 3-0 in their first two Group C matches, will reach the Round of 32 with a victory over the Scots and Ancelotti ⁠said he felt a decent performance was brewing.

"Obviously we have a ‌very big commitment, representing this shirt in the ‌World Cup," he said.

"I think the first match wasn't the best, the second match was better, and ‌we are confident that the third match will be the best."

RAPHINHA REPLACEMENT NEEDED

Ancelotti also ‌needs to find a replacement for Raphinha, who has been sidelined by a hamstring problem, but again declined to share who would take the winger's place in the starting lineup.

Scotland, with a win and a loss, are more than likely competing to be one of the eight teams who ‌will go through to the next round from third place in their groups, but Ancelotti was expecting a tough game.

"Scotland has quality," ⁠the 67-year-old added. "They ⁠are fighters, they are very well-organized.

"(Scott) McTominay and (John) McGinn are experienced players who are used to this kind of game.

"So it will be a difficult game, as usual. I think easy games in the World Cup finished a long time ago. So we are ready to play a difficult match."

Brazil's flight to Miami from their New Jersey base was delayed on Tuesday, pushing back Ancelotti's press conference, but the Italian said he was not going to let it spoil his enjoyment of his first World Cup as a coach.

"Before today everything was perfect. Today we had a small problem, but that can happen," he said.

"I think we have the quality and the confidence for this to be a good World Cup for us. In football, anything can happen but in any case, it will be a very beautiful experience -- even if I had to do a press conference at nine o'clock at night."

Sports

Qatar’s Sports Minister, Madibo Visit Canada’s Injured Kone

Qatar's Minister of Sport and Madibo during their visit to Kone. (Qatar Football Association)
Qatar's Minister of Sport and Madibo during their visit to Kone. (Qatar Football Association)
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Qatar’s Sports Minister, Madibo Visit Canada’s Injured Kone

Qatar's Minister of Sport and Madibo during their visit to Kone. (Qatar Football Association)
Qatar's Minister of Sport and Madibo during their visit to Kone. (Qatar Football Association)

Qatar's sports ‌minister and national team player Assim Madibo visited Canada midfielder Ismael Kone to check on his health after he was injured during their World Cup game, the Qatar Football Association said on Wednesday.

Qatar suffered a heavy 6-0 defeat ‌by Canada in ‌their Group B ‌clash, ⁠during which Kone ⁠sustained a broken leg following a clumsy second-half tackle from Madibo. Kone has since undergone surgery.

"They were received by the President of the ⁠Canadian Soccer Association," the Gulf ‌country's soccer ‌governing body said on Facebook.

Madibo and Kone embrace during the visit. (Qatar Football Association)

"This ‌visit reflects the spirit of ‌sportsmanship and the strong relationships on and off the field. We wish the player a speedy recovery ‌and a quick return to the pitch," it ⁠added.

The ⁠Qatar Football Association posted photos of the visit, with one showing the two players hugging each other. Kone was sitting in a wheelchair.

Qatar are set to play against Bosnia and Herzegovina in their final group match, while tournament co-hosts Canada take on Switzerland.